Pak expatriates in UAE grieve over Karachi blast

Published: Saturday, October 20, 2007, 12:32 [IST]

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Dubai, Oct 20 (UNI) Pakistani expatriates in the UAE were shocked following the twin blasts in Karachi.

Pakistani nationals in the UAE, despite having different political inclinations, jointly condemned the attacks saying the action could be a major setback for restoration of democracy in the country, Khaleej Times reported.

Expressing his concern, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz Group) Middle East Coordinator Chaudhary Noorul Hassan Tanveer said, ''As a Pakistani, I strongly condemn this act of terror. But I also feel that these blasts were just meant to scare Benazir, not to harm her.'' He, however, said the turn of events in Pakistan after the incident had to be seen.

A Dubai-based journalist Tahir Muneer said, ''It is indeed a sad day for Pakistanis all over the world. We have gone back several steps from democracy that could put Pakistan back on track. The country needs to fight terrorism and militancy. This is for its own good.'' A Dubai-based political analyst Mohammed Fareed said that Pakistan now needs to tackle several problems among which the major one was terrorism.

According to the media reports, 140 people died and 539 suffered from injuries in the terror attacks, which were targeted at former Prime Minister and Pakistan Peoples Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto on her arrival in Pakistan after completing eight-year long self-exile.